NFL.com’s Eric Edholm released his mock draft 2.0 as we are only a month away from the start of the 2024 NFL draft. The large amount of talent in this draft, especially in the first round, makes it difficult for analysts not to project some trades throughout their mocks.
Edholm is no different.
In his most recent mock, he projected several trades in the first round, including one in the top five. The Minnesota Vikings jump from No. 11 to No. 4 to take North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Adding a second first-rounder via trade was key for the Vikings, providing Minnesota with the currency to entice an Arizona team that is very much open for business, given that Monti Ossenfort and Co. have several needs to fill. The Vikes can still upgrade the offensive line, defense and wide receiver later in the draft, but in Round 1, they pounce on Maye, who might have the most upside of the entire QB bunch.
The NFL’s worst-kept secret is that the Vikings have been looking to move up in this draft to snag one of the top quarterbacks, speculation that only grew with their acquisition of the No. 23 pick from the Houston Texans.
The question becomes whether a team will look at Minnesota’s offer and not resist the opportunity to add up to three first-round picks, including two in this loaded draft.